Aces rebound to cap homestand with win, go over .500 during 5-game stretch

Las Vegas’ knockout punch came in the third quarter of its latest outing while the team used the fourth quarter to put its foot on Connecticut’s neck.

The Aces thumped the Sun, 101-78, Thursday, Aug. 20 from Michelob Ultra Arena to conclude a five-game homestand, where the team went a game over .500. Additionally, the club ended a stretch of back-to-back losses while improving to 12-7 at home this season.

“Have you seen us play lately?” head coach Becky Hammon asked. “We need to get our shit together.”

While winning the regular season series against Connecticut, 3-0, Las Vegas moves to 5-4 at home against Eastern Conference teams this season. Moreover, this year’s team is 25-13 overall and still sit in the fourth spot in the league’s standings behind Minnesota, Golden State and Indiana.

With two games left to play before the FIBA break, both will be played against Toronto, with the first coming on the road Sunday, Aug. 23 from Coca-Cola Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.

“The weirdest thing is they play better when I’m a jerk to them,” Hammon said. “I guess I’ve got to coach y’all harder.”

Both the Aces and Sun traded 13-4 runs in the first quarter but the former’s run in the second half, the visitors had no answer for.

Las Vegas went on a 13-4 run after falling behind 4-0 to start the contest. Not long after, the team would lead by double-digits.

Connecticut wouldn’t go away easily as it closed the frame on a 13-4 run of its own to trim the deficit to a single point. In fact, that spurt was pushed to a 15-4 run to open the second frame.

Thursday’s game-deciding sequence came in the third quarter in the form of a 16-0 run by the home team that put Las Vegas up 14 points. In total, the group won the third quarter, 27-16.

In total, it won the second half, 53-31, en route to the victory.

“We started playing defense,” Hammon said. “When we lock in defensively, we’re a different team. Holding them to 16 [points] and 15 [points] is a lot better than 24 and 23. Not only that, it gives us an opportunity to get out and run.”

Five straight points from reserve guard Mai Yamamoto pushed the team’s lead to 17 points on the way to 23 being the largest lead in the eventual win.

It was the supporting cast that helped the Aces stay afloat in that first half, largely behind the play of center Cheyenne Parker-Tyus during her 10-point opening half performance.

Parker-Tyus ended the night with 18 points on 4-of-5 shooting to go along with a game-high nine rebounds.

“It was a much-needed game for me,” she said. “Just to remember who I am and what I can do as a basketball player. I’m thankful Becky gave me those minutes even though I got tired.”

As a team, the Aces outrebounded the Sun, 40-23. In that, Las Vegas won the offensive rebounding category, 12-5.

“Cheyenne and [forward Stephanie Talbot] were the main ones getting on that glass offensively,” Hammon said. “It’s a tremendous help getting those second possessions, giving us another chance to score the basketball. In a way, it’s the first part of your transition defense.”

In addition to Parker-Tyus, Talbot had an efficient first half with five points on two makes from the field on her two attempts, an assist and two steals. That defensive fire was evident by the entire group as it compiled four steals and two blocks before halftime.

The unit would eventually end the night with seven total steals.

“Sometimes I’m worried and sometimes I’m not,” Hammon said. “I know what we’re capable of so that brings me peace. The consistency and sometimes the lack of consistency on that part, that keeps me up at night.”

Guard Jackie Young did all of her damage in two quarters beginning with an 11-point explosion to start the game. She’d follow that up with a 13-point showing in that game-changing third quarter.

Young finished with a game-high 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Forward A’ja Wilson added 20 points and four assists.